And Alex Castellanos (Belmont Abbey 2007-08) was hitting .304 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 21 games for the Albuquerque Isotopes before being placed on the 7-day disabled list (right forearm). Albuquerque is the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Class AAA Pacific Coast League affiliate.

GASTONIA – Trent Steelman, the record-setting Army quarterback who recently signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens, has long Lincoln County roots.

Steelman, a four-year starter for the Black Knights, signed with the Ravens shortly after last month’s NFL Draft after rushing for 3,320 yards and 45 touchdowns and passing for 2,723 yards and 14 touchdowns during his career.

The rushing touchdown total is a school record and broke the record held by 1946 Heisman Trophy winner Glenn Davis.

And Steelman’s father, aunt, uncle and grandparents are current or former Lincolnton residents.

His father Bob Steelman is a 1970 West Lincoln High graduate who lettered in football at Appalachian State for three seasons and led the Mountaineers in receiving in 1973.

His aunt Donna Steelman Martin lives in Lincolnton, his uncle Thomas Steelman lives in Crouse and his grandmother Reca Steelman lives in Lincolnton.

Trent Steelman grew up in Bowling Green, Ky. Before the 6-foot, 207-pounder went to West Point, N.Y., in 2009.

Pro baseball

Blake Lalli (Gardner-Webb 2002-06) is hitting .158 with two RBIs in 13 games for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Devin Harris (Ashbrook 2006) is hitting .274 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs in 29 games for the San Jose Giants. San Jose is the San Francisco Giants’ Class A California League affiliate.

And Alex Castellanos (Belmont Abbey 2007-08) was hitting .304 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 21 games for the Albuquerque Isotopes before being placed on the 7-day disabled list (right forearm). Albuquerque is the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Class AAA Pacific Coast League affiliate.

College softball

A pair of former local standouts recently helped Appalachian State to its first-ever Southern Conference regular season title.

Caroline Chambers (Kings Mountain 2011) hit .250 with three RBIs in nine games (three starts) and Racquel Cooke (East Lincoln 2010) played in 32 games for the Mountaineers (30-20, 17-7), who began play in the league tournament in Greensboro on Wednesday.

In NCAA Division II tournament action, three teams have former local products in two regionals that begin on Friday.

At Lenoir-Rhyne, Anne-Marie Lackey (Burns 2012) and the Bears (35-14) host a regional that also includes Anderson (37-13) and Bailey Smith (Crest 2010).

Lackey hit .100 with one RBI in 17 games for L-R, while Smith was All-South Atlantic Conference after hitting .310 with eight home runs and 24 RBIs in 46 games and going 17-7 with a 2.67 ERA in 25 starts as a pitcher for the Trojans.

And Taylor Laskey (Cherryville 2012) and Wingate (32-20-1) are in the Armstrong Atlantic regional. Laskey hit .273 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs in 53 starts for the Bulldogs.

Pro soccer

Former Gaston County middle school, high school and college coach Sandy Burris begins her second season as head coach of the Carolina Elite Cobras of the W-League Women’s Pro-Am League on Sunday at home against the Atlanta Silverbacks.

Burris, who coached at Grier Middle School, Ashbrook and Highland Tech high schools and at Belmont Abbey College, just completed her fifth season as assistant coach to former Abbey coach Glad Bugariu at South Carolina State. She guided the Cobras to a 4-5-3 record last season when the team was based in Columbia. This season, the Cobras will play in Greenville.

More pro baseball

Preston Lyon (Forestview 2008) is preparing for his first season in the independent United League.

A four-year standout at Pfeiffer University who just completed his first season as an assistant coach at his high school alma mater, Lyon will be an infielder for the San Angelo, Tex., Colts. The Colts open their 2013 season on May 23.